What does this staff do during the week?

[Mazhude]

Listen, I don't care if you are an elite player, a three star recruit, a four star recruit, or a fricken' walk on... if you put on the UConn uniform and step on that court, you better try hard every minute you are on the floor. That's the expectation. I'm not seeing it from the team right now...

 

[superjohn]

No, the talent is not all there. We do NOT currently have any elite players*. And we are devoid of an experienced top shelf PG.

*JA and Hamilton may become that, but they are not as of right now

I agree that we don't have a point guard but for everyone saying this team lacks talent I call bullspit. The team is comprised of 4 and 5 star players who seem to be regressing instead of improving, it's inexcusable that we are pretty much a middle of the pack team in this godforsaken conference.

 

[Paesano]

[QUOTE="upstater, post:
That being said, Ollie has lost control of this team and is not doing a fine coaching job at all. Maybe he has never experienced this kind of laziness and disfunction. Maybe these players don't have the drive of a Boatright/Napier. You could see the troubles on the very first offensive possession when they were totally discombobulated.

Bingo![/QUOTE]

And who chose those players?

Double Bingo!!

 

[August_West]

Not trying to persuade anyone. I'm just saying, "The Shot" game vs Clemson is still probably my second favorite UConn game of all time after the 1999 NC. Ahead of the other three NC games. Hell the NIT championship is pretty high on my list (partly because I was still @ UConn then).

And no, I wouldn't make a good Syracuse fan...can't stand them. Kansas?...yes, I'm already a fan, even if they are forever #2 for me.

The shot was exhilarating, but blowing a 19 point second half lead as a one seed in the sweet 16 was not. That was an epic meltdown saved by a one in a million miracle.

 

[Chief00]

I still maintain that talent is the bigger problem than KO but this has been a disastrous end to the season. That being said, some teams are simply hopeless. We saw it twice at the end of JC's career (2010 & 2012), even he wasn't immune to it. Even he couldn't reach certain teams.

I don't think you can compare 2012 to this year. We had excuses that year despite good talent. Due to JC illness and NCAA suspension he was in/out/in/out/in as coach. Boatshow was in /out/in due to NCAA. Guys did not know where they where playing next year with the NCAA free transfer pass.

In short, quite frankly we has a lot of external headwind.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The shot was exhilarating, but blowing a 19 point second half lead as a one seed in the sweet 16 was not. That was an epic meltdown saved by a one in a million miracle.

Oh it was horrifying...which is why pulling it out as we did made it so amazing. A few seconds before...it was among the worst games ever. That's the beauty of being a fan...being pulled from the depths of despair in a magical and near miraculous way.

 

[Catsailor]

Bingo!

And who chose those players?

Double Bingo!![/QUOTE]

Please clarify Paesano. Is this a shot? At me or Ollie?

Let's not take the player selection process out of context.

UConn was in deep from way before Ollie became coach with sanctions, ban, loss of schollies, press, uncertainty "ad nausium." Big dark cloud hung over Storrs.

And it has remained so allbeit to a lesser extent from the perspective of some. Many with talent didn't want to come to Storrs and some at UConn didn't want to remain here for that matter.

Coach had to cast a wide net and ultimately selects the "best" players talent/character/fit willing to come AND ALSO encourage players already here to remain rather than bail as several did.

KO is not without blame here and yet I find it rather hard to believe it's all on him either, considering all the documented accolades from professional stars, HOF coaches UConn players & stars giving kudos to KO as a teacher, motivator, and mentor with an exceptional work ethic.

Oh ye with short memories or damaged grey matter.

It's a little like dating or hiring talent. There are no guaranties. Some times you score and sometimes you get burnt. And sometimes, over time, relationships that showed promise or those one hoped would grow and evolve change or just don't work out the way you thought they would. That's life.

"Rome wasn't built in a day"....he's a work in progress.
"You can lead a horse to water but you can't MAKE them drink".....they need to want it.

Don't forget these are still boys with exploding hormones hard to predict, focus or control.
Any experienced and wise parent will confirm.

Obviously this team is soft with a low BB IQ, flawed composition with no leader, no experienced PG, no inside threat. One could go on and on regarding chemistry, consistency and desire. It's obvious now but back then, on paper, we all had high hopes.

There are very few true alpha dogs. We have been blessed to have had more than most.
JA could be the next. Stay tuned to see how this develops. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. And KO needs to grow as well.

Bottom line, it's more on the players than the coach.

 

[intlzncster]

I agree that we don't have a point guard but for everyone saying this team lacks talent I call bullspit. The team is comprised of 4 and 5 star players who seem to be regressing instead of improving, it's inexcusable that we are pretty much a middle of the pack team in this godforsaken conference.

But, we don't have a Shabazz, a Kemba, and Okafor/Gordon, or a KEA/RIP. Not one of those Top 10, Top 5 elite guys.

 

[BlueDogs]

But, we don't have a Shabazz, a Kemba, and Okafor/Gordon, or a KEA/RIP. Not one of those Top 10, Top 5 elite guys.

...or a Calhoun. KO seems to have his act together when he talks about the game and what he wants, but that is not translating to the court in any recognizable way.

 

[Paesano]

And who chose those players?

Double Bingo!!

Please clarify Paesano. Is this a shot?

Bottom line, it's more on the players than the coach.[/QUOTE]

It isn't a shot but a statement. I disagree that any of this is on the players. They are what they are. The coach chooses the players. If they aren't UConn players, he shouldn't have chosen them. I get the sanctions excuse, to a point. But if the remaining 5 star guys are cancers, pick the 4 star guys that will turn into the Shonn Millers of the world. It doesn't look like his 4 star picks are acting like UConn players either. There are always mid major teams that become great teams with 4 star kids that overachieve. If we lack overachievers, whose fault is that?

And, really, having to recruit overachieving 4 star players should only have been the case for a year or two. Ollie should have been able to snag the 5 star kids that were both talented and high character in the last few classes, starting with Hamilton's class. If anyone has a problem with how Hamilton is playing, they should be asking why he picked him instead of a harder working 5 star. EVERYTHING is on the coach...always.

 

[Greathusky]

Kind of hoping that Miller or Hobbs gets the CSCU job.

 

[intlzncster]

It isn't a shot but a statement. I disagree that any of this is on the players. They are what they are. The coach chooses the players. If they aren't UConn players, he shouldn't have chosen them. I get the sanctions excuse, to a point. But if the remaining 5 star guys are cancers, pick the 4 star guys that will turn into the Shonn Millers of the world. It doesn't look like his 4 star picks are acting like UConn players either. There are always mid major teams that become great teams with 4 star kids that overachieve. If we lack overachievers, whose fault is that?

And, really, having to recruit overachieving 4 star players should only have been the case for a year or two. Ollie should have been able to snag the 5 star kids that were both talented and high character in the last few classes, starting with Hamilton's class. If anyone has a problem with how Hamilton is playing, they should be asking why he picked him instead of a harder working 5 star. EVERYTHING is on the coach...always.

And who handcuffed Ollie before he even managed to take the reigns? Ollie didn't exactly have his pick of the litter.

 

[jdb50]

Quite frankly we have no players that could be considered complete players for their position. You could say that Ollie has done well with this level of talent to win 20 games. Then the fact that we are in the AAC, which many yarders fiercely put down before we were a conference member, and we can't beat the better teams from the conference at a consistent rate rears it's ugly head. The way we play offense makes it look like the team has no clue how to make plays within the limits of their talent. There is no structure and if there was we wouldn't be leading the nation in shot clock violations. This will never be seen as Ollies finest hour. His team is lost and in need of focus and direction.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

The shot was exhilarating, but blowing a 19 point second half lead as a one seed in the sweet 16 was not. That was an epic meltdown saved by a one in a million miracle.

Cool, huh?

 

[Chief00]

I hear you - but just have a couple minutes to break things down.

The fact that we have no structure to our offense makes the point guard invaluable, who can break down a defense and score - more so than if we actually ran some effective offense with ball movement rather than waiting to the end of the shot clock and throwing up a wild shot, turning the ball over or getting a shot clock violation.

I think we have better talent than our record but not great talent. Other than Enoch we have no center who can hold position against a strong big.

Our biggest problems are both poor open shooting and shot selection, no running mentality, numerous mental lapses which result in turnovers or 4-6 point turnaround plays for opponents.

It's March and we still have not adjusted to how the officials call the game based on their points of emphasis - as demonstrated by our foul problems. I have yet to see us score on a good team on an inbounds play this season and too infrequently score after a timeout - these things are at least in part on the coaches.

 

[upstater]

Kind of hoping that Miller or Hobbs gets the CSCU job.

Not sure about how Calhoun felt about Miller, but Hobbs was obviously Calhoun's right hand man, and he was the guy bringing the point guards along, and as head coach of an A-10 team, he brought them to their only top 5 finish (AP national ranking at the end of the year). So his replacement will have to be better than all that.

 

[uconngb]

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but does Temple or Houston or Tulsa or Cincy have any elite players? IMO Miller is as good as anyone in the conference. Unfortunately our offense should have been focused around him from day 1, instead it has been focused on the dribble drive.

Spearheaded by a collection of guys that can neither dribble, nor drive. How is that not on the coach?

 

[UCweCONN]

Like everyone on this board, I hated when we joined the AAC. However, the one saving grace was that I figured we dominate the conference like Memphis used to in CUSA and get an automatic bid the the NCAA tourney every year and then make wave since we got there to keep the program on top. Not exactly working out as I'd hoped.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

KO is an avid golfer. During the hoops season he enjoys honing his golf skills. You see him in Simsbury during the basketball season. Meets up with Ken. Golf provides him with a release/escape from the daily grind of a long grueling season. Also to be great at golf it takes hard work and practice. Golf is a very tough game. I am bad....like really bad.

 

[CTBasketball]

Like everyone on this board, I hated when we joined the AAC. However, the one saving grace was that I figured we dominate the conference like Memphis used to in CUSA and get an automatic bid the the NCAA tourney every year and then make wave since we got there to keep the program on top. Not exactly working out as I'd hoped.

In the AAC's defense, CUSA has been like MAAC-level since Marquette, Louisville, and Cincinnati left.

 

[superjohn]

Not sure about how Calhoun felt about Miller, but Hobbs was obviously Calhoun's right hand man, and he was the guy bringing the point guards along, and as head coach of an A-10 team, he brought them to their only top 5 finish (AP national ranking at the end of the year). So his replacement will have to be better than all that.

You constantly make up stuff around here. Hobbs had a very nice few year stretch at GW but they never finished in the top 5.

 

[upstater]

You constantly make up stuff around here. Hobbs had a very nice few year stretch at GW but they never finished in the top 5.

I was off by one single space: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/year/2006/poll/2/week/17/seasontype/2

Ranked 6th

This was the pre-tournament poll

 

[superjohn]

I was off by one single space: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/year/2006/poll/2/week/17/seasontype/2

Ranked 6th

This was the pre-tournament poll

Wrong again, they finished the season ranked 14th.

 

[CAHUSKY]

Part of this is how you measure success. In my mind, one NC and three trips to the NIT is worse, much worse, than Two elite 8's and two sweet 16's over a 4 year period. Others may feel differently of course. Having an NCAA tournament with no UConn is just wrong, and there is really no excuse for it, except perhaps after that rare season when we graduate or lose 4-5 guys.

This is quite possibly the worst post in the history of the Internet. Two elite 8 and 2 sweet 16 in 4 years is not in the same stratosphere of winning one national title. See UConn pre 1999 and everyone saying Calhoun can't win the big one.

 

[upstater]

Wrong again, they finished the season ranked 14th.

The link is right there for you. Click it.

 

[tzznandrew]

In the AAC's defense, CUSA has been like MAAC-level since Marquette, Louisville, and Cincinnati left.

The AAC is significantly better than CUSA was after Cincy, Marquette, and Louisville left. It isn't even close.

The AAC is about to have 5 Top-50ish teams, and 1 Top 70ish team. So 6 Top 100 teams.

In 2008, when Memphis made the title game, They had 2 Top 50-ish teams, and only 3 Top 100. They also had a sub-300 team.

The AAC isn't great, but if those bottom four schools could get their act together a little, we'd probably all be in much better shape, especially because the Top 6 (+Memphis when Pastner's gone) have all been pretty solid to good.

 

[superjohn]

The link is right there for you. Click it.

http://m.gwsports.com/m/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/hobbs_karl00.html Right from their own website, George Washington started the season out ranked #21 in the AP poll, they hit #6 twice during the season in the AP poll and finished the season ranked #14 in the AP poll. I could care less what GW's ranking was that season but I'm sick of you making up stuff around here and never admitting when you're wrong, it's not a good look.

 

[upstater]

http://m.gwsports.com/m/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/hobbs_karl00.html Right from their own website, George Washington started the season out ranked #21 in the AP poll, they hit #6 twice during the season in the AP poll and finished the season ranked #14 in the AP poll. I could care less what GW's ranking was that season but I'm sick of you making up stuff around here and never admitting when you're wrong, it's not a good look.

The last week we went through your BS I gave you the link I got it from (McHale MVP voting) and you never responded, so save your nonsense.

The time before that, it was the point about the Patriots offensive line, and then again, I more nonsense from you. You just continue to do it.

 

[superjohn]

The last week we went through your BS I gave you the link I got it from (McHale MVP voting) and you never responded, so save your nonsense.

The time before that, it was the point about the Patriots offensive line, and then again, I more nonsense from you. You just continue to do it.

Seriously, what's the matter with you? This isn't debatable it's a fact, GW finished #14 in the AP poll. You double and triple down on lies, never seen anything like it. You bringing the McHale thread back up is hysterical, the entire board was laughing at you. You're pathological on here, I hope for your sake this is just your message board persona and you aren't like this in day to day life. When someone gives you concrete proof you are wrong it's okay to admit you're wrong, if you don't it makes you look like a crazy person.

 

[tzznandrew]

The link is right there for you. Click it.

Your link is Week 17 of the coaches' poll. Week 18 (last before the NCAAs) has them 11, and the end of year they were 19.

In the AP they were 7, and then the last pre-tournament poll they were 14. I'm confused as to why this is an issue.